Recount costs Racine County taxpayers $5,400

RACINE, Wis. (AP) -- A recount that didn't change the outcome of state Sen. Van Wanggaard's recall loss has left Racine County taxpayers with a bill of about $5,400.

The payroll and equipment costs totaled just under $6,100. Wanggaard's campaign had to pay $685 to request the recount, and taxpayers are on the hook for the rest.

The official canvass following the June 5 elections showed Democratic challenger John Lehman leading Wanggaard by 834 votes out of nearly 72,000 ballots cast.

Democrats urged Wanggaard to concede, saying the margin was too large for a recount to change the outcome. But Wanggaard's campaign said it was concerned about reports of voting irregularities and wanted to ensure the outcome was accurate.